Research: This year we have experiments at the Beaumont Center, Eagle Lake, Ganado and commercial rice fields. At the Beaumont Center, we are investigating novel pest management tools applied as seed treatments and pre- and post-flood foliar treatments. These products target rice water weevil and rice stink bug.
Also, we are investigating planting date effects (mid-March, first of April, mid-April, first of May and mid-May) on insect populations and yield. We are comparing rice water weevil populations and damage in stale and conventional seedbeds. Our past studies show that rice water weevil populations are higher and more damaging in a conventional seedbed and yields higher in a stale seedbed. We are cooperating with Dr. Don Groth, LSU Plant Pathologist, to determine the relationship between rice water weevil damage and sheath blight damage.	Dr. M.O. Way
We are evaluating currently grown rice varieties for relative resistance to the rice water weevil. We also are determining the best time to apply Mustang Max for rice water weevil control and assessing pre-flood herbicide/Mustang Max tank mixes for potential antagonism. At Eagle Lake, we are evaluating rice water weevil populations and damage in a stale and conventional seedbed on fine sandy loam soil. At Ganado, we are conducting stem borer research to determine the best time to apply Karate Z and to determine varietal resistance to stem borers. This research is in cooperation with Dr. Gene Reagan, LSU Entomologist. In addition, a Ph. D. graduate student, Luis Espino, is developing an easier method than sweep net for sampling rice stink bug.
Extension: The Entomology Project makes about 35 on-site inspections yearly. We learn from each visit and redirect our research to answer high priority questions. We also participate in Field Day, winter extension meetings and we publish extension articles in the Rice Production Guidelines, Texas Rice and Rice Production Updates. We contribute to clientele articles in trade journals, judge high school science fairs, give entomology classes to elementary and high school students and conduct the Rice Youth Contest.
Regulatory: This year we have represented Texas in Washington, D.C. to save molinate. We also are working with Syngenta and EPA to gain a stem borer label for Karate Z. In addition, we assisted in gaining a rice label for Mustang Max.
Selected data from 2002 Research:

Table 1. Rice Water Weevil (RWW) Insecticide Evaluations, Beaumont, TX. 2002.   Rate   0d no. immature RWW / 5 cores 0d yield Treatment [lb(AI)/acre] Timing June 13 (lb/acre @ 12% moisture) Dimilin 2L 0.188 3 DAFa 2.3 de 8323 abc Dimilin 2L 0.125 3 DAF 2.5 de 7983 bcd GF-317 0.03 1 DBFb 0.3 e 8404 ab GF-317 0.01 1 DBF 9.5 bc 7845 cde GF-317 0.003 1 DBF 20.8 a 7457 ef GF-317 0.03 3 DAF 0.8 e 8388 ab GF-317 0.01 3 DAF 2.0 de 8303 abc GF-317 0.003 3 DAF 17.5 b 7537 def Cruiser 5FS 0.18 STc 0.8 e 8543 a Icon 6.2FS 0.0375 ST 5.0 cd 7899 cde Untreated - - 41.0 a 7058 f a DAF = days after flood   b DBF = days before flood  c ST = seed treatment d Means in a column followed by the same letter(s) are not significantly different at the 5% level (ANOVA and DMRT).

Table 2. Stem Borer Host Plant Resistance Study, Ganado, TX. 2002 Main plot effects:             No. whiteheads Yield (lb/acre) Variety M1 R2 M R M+R Priscilla 56.2 a 24.7 ab 7362 d 1674 ab 9036 cd Lemont 37.9 b 9.2 de 6752 e 1662 ab 8414 e Saber 30.7 b 27.5 a 7359 d 1336 cd 8696 de Cocodrie 24.6 bc 28.5 a 8852 a 1141 de 9293 b Jefferson 20.6 bc 11.3 cde 7890 bc 1443 bc 9333 c CL121 20.2 cd 18.3 bc 7941 b 949 e 8890 cde Cypress 17.7 cd 22.7 ab 8075 b 1127 de 9201 cd Bolivar 14.2 cd 15.8 bcd 7457 cd 1572 abc 9028 cd XL7 9.9 d 3.0 e 8095 b 1843 a 9937 b XL8 9.5 d 7.5 de 9237 a 1657 ab 10894 a Sub plot effects:             No. whiteheads Yield (lb/acre) T3 or U M R M R M+R T 1.8 b 12.9 b 8524 a 1508 a 10033 a U 46.5 a 20.8 a 7269 b 1352 b 8621 b Interactions:             No. whiteheads Yield (lb/acre)   M R M R M+R mp x sp sig (P = 0.0001) ns (P = 0.1178) sig (P = 0.0022) ns (P = 0.2467) sig (P = 0.0029) 1 M = main crop 2 R = ratoon crop 3 Karate Z @ 0.03 lb(AI)/acre applied 3 times to treated plots   Technicians in the Entomology Project are Glenn Wallace and Mark Nunez; Graduate Students are Bandara Ratnayake, Luis Espino and Becky Wolff; Summer Student Assistants are Michael Weiss, Josh Moore, Josh Turner, Jeff Lounsbery, Anthony Brown, Ashley Easley and Aaron Baker. For more details contact M.O.Way at 409.752.2741 or Moway@aesrg.tamu.edu